OSRS Free-to-Play Mining Guide: Level 1-99 (2025 Updated)
Welcome to the ultimate OSRS free-to-play (F2P) Mining guide! Whether you’re a new player swinging your first pickaxe or a seasoned adventurer aiming for level 99, this guide will walk you through the best methods to train Mining in Old School RuneScape without a membership. Mining is a core skill in OSRS, allowing you to gather ores for profit or Smithing, and it’s completely accessible in F2P worlds. In this 2025-updated guide, we’ll cover efficient leveling strategies, key locations, and tips to maximize your experience—all tailored for F2P players. Let’s dig in!
Mining in OSRS free-to-play offers a mix of benefits: it’s a low-investment skill, provides resources for Smithing, and can even turn a profit at higher levels. While it’s not the flashiest skill, it’s a gateway to self-sufficiency and a solid gold-making method later on. Plus, reaching level 99 Mining is a badge of honor in the F2P community, showcasing your dedication in a world with limited options.
Benefits of Mining in F2P
- Resource Gathering: Ores like iron, coal, and runite fuel Smithing and crafting.
- Profit Potential: High-level ores (adamantite and runite) sell well on the Grand Exchange.
- Low Entry Barrier: All you need is a pickaxe—start with a bronze one for free!
Challenges of F2P Mining
It’s not all smooth sailing. Mining can be click-intensive, and F2P lacks the variety of P2P methods like Motherlode Mine. But with the right approach, you can make it efficient and rewarding.
Essential Gear and Preparation
Before you start mining, gear up properly. In F2P, your options are limited, but optimizing what’s available makes a big difference.
Pickaxe Progression
Your pickaxe determines your mining speed. Higher tiers reduce the time between mining attempts, boosting efficiency. Here’s the progression:
| Pickaxe | Mining Level | Attack Level (to Wield) | Where to Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 1 | 1 | Free from Bob’s Brilliant Axes (Lumbridge) |
| Iron | 1 | 1 | Grand Exchange or Nurmof’s Pickaxe Shop (Dwarven Mine) |
| Steel | 6 | 5 | Grand Exchange or Nurmof’s Shop |
| Mithril | 21 | 20 | Grand Exchange |
| Adamant | 31 | 30 | Grand Exchange |
| Rune | 41 | 40 | Grand Exchange |
Tip: Always use the best pickaxe your Mining level allows. Wielding it saves an inventory slot, but you can mine with it in your inventory if your Attack level is too low.
Starting Out: Doric’s Quest
Kick off your Mining journey with Doric’s Quest. It’s a quick quest that grants 1,300 Mining XP, taking you from level 1 to 10 instantly. You’ll need:
- 6 Clay
- 4 Copper Ore
- 2 Iron Ore
Mine these at the South-east Varrock Mine or buy them from the Grand Exchange, then head to Doric’s house north of Falador to complete it. This skips the tedious early grind—don’t miss it!
Leveling Guide: 1-99 Mining in F2P
Here’s the step-by-step path to 99 Mining in F2P, focusing on the fastest XP methods. We’ll prioritize “powermining” (dropping ores) for speed, with profit options later.
Levels 1-15: Copper and Tin
Location: South-east Varrock Mine or Lumbridge Swamp East Mine
XP per Ore: 17.5
Mine copper or tin rocks to reach level 15. These ores are abundant and respawn quickly. Drop them as you go for maximum XP—banking isn’t worth it at this stage. Expect around 10,000-15,000 XP per hour with a bronze or iron pickaxe.
Levels 15-60: Iron Powermining
Location: Al Kharid Mine
XP per Ore: 35
From level 15, switch to iron rocks. The Al Kharid Mine is the F2P hotspot, featuring a triangle of three iron rocks. Stand in the center, mine all three, and drop the ores while waiting for respawns. At level 41 with a rune pickaxe, you can hit 40,000-50,000 XP per hour. Watch out for scorpions if you’re low combat—they’re aggressive to players under level 29.
Pro Tip: At level 61, your success rate for iron becomes 100%, slightly boosting XP to around 52,500 per hour.
Levels 60-70: Mining Guild (Iron or Coal)
Location: Mining Guild (Falador)
XP per Ore: Iron (35), Coal (50)
Unlock the Mining Guild at level 60. Enter via the Dwarven Mine ladder in Falador. The F2P section has fast-respawning iron and coal rocks. Stick to powermining iron for speed (up to 50,000 XP/hour) or mine coal if you want to bank for Smithing or profit (around 30,000 XP/hour).
Levels 70-85: Adamantite (Optional Profit)
Location: Mining Guild
XP per Ore: 95
At 70, you can mine adamantite in the Mining Guild. There are two rocks here—mine them, hop worlds, and bank at East Falador for profit (ores fetch 300-400 GP each). XP rates drop to 20,000-25,000 per hour due to banking, so powermining iron remains faster if profit isn’t your goal.
Levels 85-99: Runite (Profit-Focused) or Iron
Location: Lava Maze Runite Mine (Wilderness) or Al Kharid Mine
XP per Ore: Runite (125), Iron (35)
At 85, runite becomes an option, but it’s risky. The only F2P runite rocks are in the Wilderness (level 46, Lava Maze). Mine them, hop worlds, and bank at Ferox Enclave for 500-1,000 GP per ore. XP is slow (10,000-15,000/hour) due to long respawns (12 minutes). For pure XP, stick to Al Kharid iron powermining—consistent 50,000 XP/hour beats runite’s risks.
Total XP to 99: 13,034,431. Powermining iron from 15-99 takes roughly 260 hours.
Top Mining Locations in F2P
Location matters in F2P Mining. Here are the best spots for each stage:
South-east Varrock Mine
Ores: Copper, Tin, Iron
Bank: Varrock East
Perfect for early levels with a nearby bank. It’s often busy, so hop worlds if needed.
Al Kharid Mine
Ores: Copper, Tin, Iron, Gold
Bank: Al Kharid
The go-to for iron powermining. The three-rock setup is unmatched for XP efficiency.
Mining Guild
Ores: Iron, Coal, Mithril, Adamantite
Bank: East Falador
Level 60+ paradise. Fast respawns and higher-tier ores make it versatile.
Lava Maze (Wilderness)
Ores: Runite
Bank: Ferox Enclave
High risk, high reward. Bring minimal gear and teleport runes to escape PKers.
Tips and Tricks for Faster Mining
Maximize your efficiency with these F2P-friendly strategies:
Powermining vs. Banking
Powermining (dropping ores) is the fastest XP method. Use the “Shift + Click” drop option (enable in settings) to speed it up. Banking is only worth it for profit at higher levels (adamantite/runite).
Tick Manipulation (Advanced)
At Al Kharid, use tick manipulation with a rune pickaxe for up to 68,000 XP/hour. Light logs between mining cycles to cancel animations—it’s click-intensive but the fastest F2P method.
Shooting Stars (Alternative)
Join the “Star Miners” Discord to track Shooting Stars. Mine them for 30,000-50,000 XP/hour (level-dependent). It’s AFK-friendly but relies on finding stars in F2P worlds.
Inventory Management
Wield your pickaxe to free a slot. If banking, use the metal bank in the Mining Guild or Falador furnace to deposit ores instantly.
That’s it for the OSRS F2P Mining Guide! Whether you’re chasing 99 for the skill cape or stacking GP with runite, you’ve got the tools to succeed. Stick to iron powermining for speed, dip into the Mining Guild at 60, and brave the Wilderness for profit if you dare. Happy mining, and may your pickaxe strike true!